Deck Joist Protecting Kit of Tools and Devices

ABSTRACT

A deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices is used retrofit a deck in order to protect the deck boards and the deck joists from water or moisture damage. The kit comprises a plurality of water diverting inserts, a plurality of water diverting strips, an insert knife, a strip roller, and a reciprocating saw attachment. The water diverting inserts are positioned between each deck board on top of a deck joist, which channels the water or moisture away from the deck boards and the deck joist. The water diverting strips are positioned in between certain deck boards on top of several desk joist in order to create a dry area underneath the deck. The insert knife is used to install the water diverting inserts, and the strip roller is used to install the water diverting strips. The reciprocating saw attachment can be used widen the gap between deck boards.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 61/488,408 filed on May 20, 2011. The current application filed in U.S. May 21, 2012 while May 20, 2012 was on a weekend.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally a protective devices place between deck boards. More specifically, the present invention is a protective component placed between deck boards that will divert any water fallen on top away from the joist below.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, the deck joist is protected from moisture damage by means of a coating. However, water can travel in between the decking and the joist and wick into the decking. Then, water can only be evaporated out of the decking through sunlight, which would damage the coating on the decking as the water evaporates out. The water can also be absorbed into the cracks of the joist, which can be created by nails and screws. As the main support frame of the deck, the joist is an important structural component of a deck. Therefore, it is important that the joist maintains its structural stability. Moisture is able to damage wooden components by allowing the wood to rot. Although the coatings that are typically provided is able provide some level of moisture protection, the best protection is to completely avoid direct contact with moisture. The present invention is a device that can be inserted between the deck boards lying atop the joist to divert water away. By diverting such liquid moisture away from the joist, the amount of moisture that the joist will come in contact to is minimal. The present invention acts a series of gutters to collect the moisture before it reaches the decking and the joist.

The present invention will protect a deck joist in certain instances where pressure treating or waterproofing the deck joist is not enough. One such instance is when a nail or a screw is inserted into the deck joist, which split the deck joist and allows water to enter and rot the deck joint from the inside. Another such instance is when water goes between the deck boards and the deck joist and wicks under the deck boards. The water must then evaporate through the deck boards, which damages the coating on the deck boards. Another such instance when dirt gets in between the deck boards and the deck joist and holds the water in that area, which can eventually damage the deck boards and the deck joist. Thus, it is an objective of the present invention to prevent water damage from all three instances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of both the water diverting insert and the water diverting strip.

FIG. 3 is a front view of both the water diverting insert and the water diverting strip.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the insert knife.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the insert knife.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the strip roller.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the strip roller.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the reciprocating saw attachment.

FIG. 9 is a side view of the reciprocating saw attachment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating how to install the plurality of water diverting inserts with the insert knife.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating how to install the plurality of water diverting strips with the strip roller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the present invention is a kit of tools and devices that allows a user to retrofit a constructed deck in order to protect the deck joists of the constructed deck from water damage or any other liquid moisture. The present invention mainly comprises a plurality of water diverting inserts 1, a plurality of water diverting strips 2, an insert knife 7, a strip roller 11, and a reciprocating saw attachment 17. Each of the plurality of water diverting inserts 1 is positioned into every gap between the deck boards and over a deck joist so that water entering the gap will collect on the water diverting inserts 1 instead of the deck joist. Each of the plurality of water diverting strips 2 is positioned every gap between the deck boards that is needed to create a dry area underneath the deck. The insert knife 7 allows the user to install the water diverting inserts 1 into the constructed deck, and the strip roller 11 allows the user to install the water diverting strips 2 into the constructed deck. The reciprocating saw attachment 17 is used to cut into the deck boards on either side of the gap, which widens that gap and allows a water diverting insert 1 or a water diverting strip 2 to fit into the gap.

Essentially, the water diverting strips 2 are a longer version of the water diverting inserts 1, but the water diverting strips 2 serve a different function than the water diverting inserts 1. The function of the water diverting inserts 1 provide uniform protection to all of the deck joists from water damage, and the function of the water diverting strips 2 to provide a dry area underneath a constructed deck. For example, the dry area could be used to keep a barbeque grill from getting wet and/or to create a dry walkway underneath the deck. For maximum protection, the water diverting inserts 1 and the water diverting strips 2 are made of a flexible, water-resistant material such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Similarly, a water diverting strip 2 and a water diverting insert 1 each comprise a base 3, a first curved side 4, a second curved side 5, and a channel 6, which are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The first curved side 4 and the second curved side 5 press against and apply an outward pressure onto the sides of the deck boards so that water cannot traverse through the gap and onto the deck joist or underneath the deck. In the preferred embodiment, the outward pressure is created by the flexible nature of the water diverting insert 1 and the water diverting strip 2. The first curved side 4 and the second curved side 5 are shaped in order to prevent any liquid moisture from bypassing the water diverting insert 1 directly to the deck joist or from bypassing the water diverting strip 2 into an area underneath the deck. The first curved side 4 is connected adjacent to the base 3, and the second curved side 5 is connected adjacent to the base 3 opposite to the first curved side 4. The base 3 is the bottom portion of the water diverting insert 1 and the water diverting strip 2 and is situated on top of the deck joist(s). The channel 6 holds the water that accumulates within either the water diverting insert 1 or the water diverting strip 2 and allows the water to outflow away from the deck joist or to outflow away from a specified area underneath the deck. More liquid will outflow from the ends of the channel 6 as the channel 6 accumulates more and more water. The channel 6 is located in between the first curved side 4 and the second curved side 5 and is delineated by the first curved side 4, the second curved side 5, and the base 3. The first curved side 4, the second curved side 5, the base 3, and the channel 6 are the same on both the water diverting inserts 1 and the water diverting strips 2. The primary difference is how far the similar cross-section of the water diverting insert 1 and the water diverting strip 2 is extended lengthwise. The similar cross-section is V-shaped and can be extended to fit over any size deck joist. The similar cross-section of the water diverting insert 1 would only need to extend so that it can span over the width of a single deck joist. The similar cross-section of the water diverting strip 2 would need to extend so that it can span over the width of several deck joists.

In order to specifically install the water diverting inserts 1, the present invention includes an insert knife 7 and is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5. The insert knife 7 comprises a knife blade 8 and a handle 10. The knife blade 8 is used to physically push a water diverting insert 1 into a gap between two deck boards and above a deck joist, but the knife blade 8 contacts the water diverting insert 1 with a blunt edge 9, which prevents any damage to the water diverting insert 2. The knife blade 8 is connected adjacent to the handle 10, and the blunt edge 9 is positioned opposite to the handle 10. The handle 10 allows a user to grasp the insert knife 7 and apply the force required to the push the water diverting insert 1 into the gap.

In order to specifically install the water diverting strips 2, the present invention includes a strip roller 11 and is illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. The strip roller 11 comprises a curved handle 12, a wheel 13, a fastener 14, and a wheel fork 15. The strip roller 11 is used to push a water diverting strip 2 into a gap between two deck boards and above several deck joists by rolling the wheel 13 against the base 3 of the water diverting strip 2, which allows the user to gently guide the water diverting strip 2 into the gap. The curved handle 12 allows the user to grasp the strip roller 11 and is shaped in such a way that the user can comfortably roll the wheel 13 on the water diverting strip 2 without straining their arm. The wheel fork 15 is connected adjacent to the curved handle 12 and is used to hold the wheel 13 on the strip roller 11. The wheel 13 is positioned in between the wheel fork 15, which properly secures the wheel 13 to the strip roller 11. The wheel fork 15 has a pair of mounting holes 16, which traverse through the wheel fork 15 and are positioned opposite to the curved handle 12. The wheel 13 is rotatably connected to the wheel fork 15 by the fastener 14, which traverses through the pair of mounting holes 16 and the wheel 13.

In order to install either the water diverting inserts 1 or the water diverting strips 2, the present invention includes a reciprocating saw attachment 17 and is illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9. The reciprocating saw attachment 17 comprises an attachment leg 18 and a saw leg 19. The attachment leg 18 is configured in such a way that it is able to attach to any generic reciprocating saw, and the saw leg 19 is used to widen the gap between two deck boards if the gap is too narrow for either the water diverting insert 1 or the water diverting strip 2 to be pushed into. The saw leg 19 is perpendicularly connected to the attachment leg 18 so that the user can properly position the saw leg 19 on the narrow gap. The saw leg 19 has a cutting edge 20, which is used to make physically contact with the two deck boards and to widen the gap. The cutting edge 20 is also positioned parallel to the attachment leg 18 so that the reciprocating saw can properly motion the cutting edge 20 back and forth. The cutting edge 20 comprises a plurality of the serrated portions 21 and a plurality of the protruding protection portions 22. The plurality of serrated portions 21 is used cut away at the sides of the two deck boards, which widen the gap and allows either the water diverting insert 1 or the water diverting strips 2 to be inserted into the gap. The plurality of protruding protection portions 22 are used to prevent the plurality of serrated portions 21 from contacting the deck joist as the cutting edge 20 traverse down into the gap. If the serrated portions 21 cuts into the deck joist, then deck joist could start to rot because the inside of the deck joist is not pressure treated. Thus, the user should stop moving the cutting edge 20 through the gap once the plurality of protruding protection portions 22 start to graze the deck joist.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices comprises, a plurality of water diverting inserts; a plurality of water diverting strips; an insert knife; a strip roller; a reciprocating saw attachment; each of said plurality of water diverting inserts and each of said plurality of water diverting inserts comprise a base, a first curved side, a second curved side, and a channel; said insert knife comprises a knife blade and a handle; said strip roller comprises a curved handle, a wheel, a fastener, and a wheel fork; said reciprocating saw attachment comprises an attachment leg and a saw leg; said knife blade comprises a blunt edge; said wheel fork comprises a pair of mounting holes; said saw leg comprises a cutting edge; and said cutting edge comprises a plurality of serrated portions and a plurality of protruding protection portions.
 2. The deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said first curved side being connected adjacent to said base; said second curved side being connected adjacent to said base opposite to said first curved side; said channel being located in between said first curved surface and said second curved surface; and said channel being delineated by said first curved surface, said second curved surface, and said base.
 3. The deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said plurality of said water diverting strips being longer lengthwise than said plurality of water diverting inserts.
 4. The deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said knife blade being connected adjacent to said handle; and said blunt edge being positioned opposite to said handle.
 5. The deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said wheel fork being connected adjacent to said handle; said pair of mounting holes traversing through said wheel fork opposite to said handle; said wheel being positioned in between said wheel fork; and said wheel being rotatably connected said wheel fork by said fastener.
 6. The deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices as claimed in claim 5 comprises, said fastener traversing through said pair of mounting holes and said wheel.
 7. The deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices as claimed in claim 1 comprises, said saw leg being perpendicularly connected to said attachment leg; said cutting edge being located opposite to said attachment leg on said saw leg; said cutting edge being positioned parallel to said attachment leg; and said plurality of serrated portions being positioned in between said the plurality of protruding protection portions.
 8. A method of protecting a constructed deck by retrofitting the constructed deck with a deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices, the method comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of deck boards, wherein said plurality of deck boards are positioned adjacent and parallel to each other; providing a plurality of deck joists, wherein said plurality of deck joists are positioned across each of said plurality of deck boards and are connected underneath to each of said plurality of deck boards; providing a gap between each of said plurality of deck boards, wherein said gap is delineated between two deck boards and atop a particular deck joist; providing a reciprocating saw attachment, a plurality of water diverting inserts, and a insert knife; widening said gap with reciprocating saw attachment, if a particular water diverting insert does not fit into said gap; situating said particular water diverting insert over said gap; pressing said particular water diverting insert into said gap with said insert knife; and repeating process with remaining water diverting inserts for said remaining gaps.
 9. The method of protecting a constructed deck by retrofitting the constructed deck with a deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices, the method as claimed in claim 8 comprises the steps of: providing a reciprocating saw attachment with a cutting edge, wherein said cutting edge comprises a plurality of serrated portions and a plurality of protruding protection portions; providing a reciprocating saw, wherein said reciprocating saw attachment is engaged and attached to said reciprocating saw; positioning said cutting edge on said gap; reciprocating said plurality serrated portions into said gap with said reciprocating saw in order to widen said gap; and continuing to reciprocate said plurality of serrated portion into said gap, until said plurality of protruding protection portions starts to graze said particular deck joist.
 10. A method of building a water diverting walkway underneath a constructed deck by retrofitting the constructed deck with a deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices, the method comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of deck boards, wherein said plurality of deck boards are positioned adjacent and parallel to each other; providing a plurality of deck joists, wherein said plurality of deck joists are positioned across each of said plurality of deck boards and are connected underneath to each of said plurality of deck boards; providing a gap between each of said plurality of deck boards, wherein said gap is delineated between two deck boards and spans across multiple deck joists; providing a reciprocating saw attachment, a plurality of water diverting strips, and a strip roller; widening said gap with reciprocating saw attachment, if a particular water diverting strip does not fit into said gap; situating said particular water diverting strip over said gap; pressing said particular water diverting strip into said gap by rolling said strip roller across said particular water diverting strip; and creating rest of water diverting walkway by repeating process with remaining water diverting strips for corresponding gaps, wherein said corresponding gaps outline said rest of water diverting walkway.
 11. The method of protecting a constructed deck by retrofitting the constructed deck with a deck joist protecting kit of tools and devices, the method as claimed in claim 10 comprises the steps of: providing a reciprocating saw attachment with a cutting edge, wherein said cutting edge comprises a plurality of serrated portions and a plurality of protruding protection portions; providing a reciprocating saw, wherein said reciprocating saw attachment is engaged and attached to said reciprocating saw; positioning said cutting edge on said gap; reciprocating said plurality serrated portions into said gap with said reciprocating saw in order to widen said gap; and continuing to reciprocate said plurality of serrated portion into said gap, until said plurality of protruding protection portions starts to graze said particular deck joist. 